The Sharing Economy: Rover.com

If you own a pet, it's really nice to know about Rover.

What is Rover?

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Rover is basically an Airbnb, but for pets. You can schedule walks, workweek check-ins, or boarding services while you're away and regular people will take care of your precious pet.

Why use Rover?

The website is sleek and easy to use; prices range from $25-$30 for a night of boarding (it may be higher in different areas), and it comes with a very reassuring insurance policy. That last point had car-guy husband sold. 

If you're intrigued, you can check out the site here (and of course, if you book through that link I get $20 for future services and you get $20 for your first booking. Yay).

If you prefer the personal experience to cold facts, keep on going, dear reader. I'll tell you all about it.

Our experience with Rover

A few months ago, we made plans to go visit family on the East Coast for a solid week. Car-guy husband and I love to travel and tend to go on lots of adventures. We even have our to-go toiletries prepacked and ready to go at a moment’s notice (yuppies, rejoice). But our efficiency in travel took a slight nose dive after Lola the dog joined our team.

So, I got a taste of what fretting mothers must feel like (and don’t take offense in my comparing dogs to babies, let’s be honest...they both involve taking care of slightly helpless but cute creatures and dogs are basically gateways to more responsibility...but I digress). So I had to find someplace to board Lola for a week. Yelp reviews of good kennels are tremendously helpful, but the highly rated kennels were either too far or too expensive ($45 a day just seemed too pricey, especially multiplied by 7).

For Lola the dog in particular, I wanted someplace where she could run around and also be velcroed to another human (Vizslas have the nickname of “velcro dog” for a reason). The solution: peruse Rover.com.

I had heard of Rover from an old coworker who worked there. At the time, I didn’t have a dog and just thought the whole service was cute but kind of over the top. I stand corrected: it's great.

So, I searched sitters in my area that could handle boarding and set my criteria: fenced-in yard, dogs allowed on furniture, and high star ratings.

As a first time user, I took the option to go meet the sitter and see the house in person. I decided not to book my first option (the yard was really small and the sitter flaked out on the meet-up) and instead went with my now go-to choice: my gal Monica (no idea her last name...just that she is a mom of two and a dog breeder on the side and Lola comes home a happy pup after a stay at Monica's). 

Booking was easy-peasy and the rate for boarding was $25-$30 per night in my area. It was very comparable to kennels (and often cheaper), but you know your dog will get more personalized attention with a family (velcro dogs rejoice). Rover also has very attractive Premium Pet Insurance so your pet is covered during every stay. Premium Pet Insurance covers vet bills up to $25,000 after a $500 deductible in case an incident occurs while your dog is staying with someone else. This peace of mind won my husband over and even now we often use Rover instead of other options specifically for the insurance guarantee. Plus, like all good sharing economies, a review system is built in to review sitters and read about others' experiences.

So I dropped Lola off at Monica’s house the day we were leaving. It was super easy. I didn’t have to make a specific window like at a kennel and Monica got all the details about what Lola needed (lots of exercise) and what to watch out for (counter surfing). I got picture updates during her stay (including an adorable picture of her daughter and Lola sitting on a bed with the caption "best buds"...my heart mushed a bit).  I picked Lola up, happy and healthy, and considered Rover a great success.

Additional notes:

Rover is also great in a tight time situation. We booked a sitter the day-of for a four-hour stay while we were traveling on the other side of the state so Lola could be in air conditioning instead of a hot car.

The first stay with Rover takes a little longer because you're getting to know a new sitter but it's smooth sailing from there out as you can rebook with a now trusted sitter through a super easy website and app.

Want a short-term dog? Sign up for the other side of Rover and be a dog sitter. I have parents that love dogs but aren’t ready for the commitment….I imagine Rover might be a perfect solution to the dog itch.

That link, one more time, if you're now curious: Rover for the win.

The Sharing Economy: Uber

This is the third post in a series on the wonderful world of the sharing economy. Check out the first two on Airbnb: hosting and traveling. On deck: the popular ride-sharing service, uber.

Many have already used uber, and this post is mainly directed at those who have not. I found it to be a little more scary to start than the welcoming, picture-filled site of Airbnb (though importantly, no less helpful). To the newbies, I want to say yes, you can use uber. It's easier than hailing a cab and cheaper too.*

My first uber trip was out of necessity (as was my second trip and my third), which is what makes this sharing economy so clutch. I had a pretty intense ankle surgery and couldn’t walk or drive. I had to make it to work which was only a MILE AWAY. Before uber, what would I do? Ask my husband to stay home from work to take me? Ride a knee scooter with marginal brakes down a very steep hill? Call our retired friends who live 40 minutes away to come and get me? No good options. So I signed up for uber and took my first trip. It was super easy and incredibly convenient.

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Here's how to do it.

First, download the Uber app and sign up.

It’s free to sign up  (another full disclosure - that’s my referral link. Free ride for you and free ride for me).

Set your pickup location and car type.

When you’re in the app, a map will appear of your general location. Type in an address for your pickup location or drag the map around until the pin is where you want to be picked up.

The number in the circle is the estimated time to pickup, and the cars pictured are actual nearby ubers.

Select your uber type from the options along the bottom of the screen.

The cheapest option is on the left and the most expensive is on the right (For Hire being the exception. It’s comparable to uberX rates).

A quick rundown on uber types. Note: you'll only see options available in your area. You might not see “uberHOP” or “For Hire” in your view, for example.

Uberhop: Carpool! A commuter option to share an uber for the cheapest fare. Only available along popular commuter routes in metro areas.

UberX: Point A to Point B without a fuss. These are typically sedans from the last ten years and they look fine: no dents, no scratches. They seat four. This is my typical option because it's cheap and functional.

UberSelect: For the fancy pantsys. Expect to be picked up in a nicer car like an Audi, BMW, Mercedes, or Infiniti. They’ll all have leather seats.

UberBlack: For the fantsy pantsys wanting one specific color. Yes, these cars are actually black with black leather interiors. They're typically a bit more expensive than UberSelect and their drivers will be lookin' fly.

UberXL: Great for going to the airport in a carload. These are the bigger version of UberX and seat up to six.

UberSUV: Big car. Big style. Expect Cadillac Escalades, Chevy Suburbans, or GMC Denalis. It's basically UberSelect with six seats.

For Hire: Taxis using uber technology. These are found in very limited areas and pricing is comparable to UberX.

Right then, back to it.

Enter a destination

I always check out the “fare estimate” and this will give you a ballpark of cost.  

Close out of the fare estimate and request your uber.

When uber is trying to get more cars on the road, they’ll enact “surge pricing” that makes fares more expensive (and thus drivers make more money). If surge pricing is in effect, you’ll be notified before you pay.

Pickup

After you've requested your uber, you’ll see a profile of the driver, a description of the car, and then you can actually follow the car’s location on the app until it comes to you. The driver may call you just to touch base and clarify pickup details (what corner you’re standing on, an identifying feature, etc).

The driver will pull up, confirm you’re the right person, and then go ahead and hop in! I usually sit in the back rather than the passenger seat, but that's up to you.

Drop off

That's it! Get out and be on your merry way. You don't tip - your credit card will be automatically charged (wizardry technology). You’ll also have the opportunity to rate your driver after the trip is finished.

Use uber...

• To/from the airport.

• After you’ve had a few too many drinks and can’t drive.

• In place of a taxi.

• In a city.

• To get dropped off at a show with limited parking.

A few things to keep in mind:

Uber has drawn some critics for less-than-stringent driver requirements and liability issues. Know and understand these perspectives, and trust your gut if something feels off.

It does seem that uber is really stepping up their safety with end-to-end insurance for riders and drivers, and riders can also press a button to “share their ETA” with a friend when hopping in for a ride.

Overall, I'm definitely in favor of uber as yet another success of the sharing economy and will definitely be using it again.

*Uber is cheaper than taxis in most major cities. There is not enough room here to show you all the data, but check out this cool map from CNBC for further reading on the price comparison.

The Sharing Economy: Airbnb for Travel

This is Part 2 of a sharing series. I’m a big fan of the sharing economy, because it’s clever, cost-effective, and follows the life mantra of “what makes a better story.” It’s not for everyone, but if you’re intrigued, read on!

Sharing experiment #2: booking with Airbnb

For those with a chronic case of wanderlust, I highly recommend checking out Airbnb for your next trip, if you haven't already. Airbnb is a website where people can list, find, and rent lodging. They currently have over 1.5 million listings in 190 countries, so you'll have plenty to choose from.

Six good reasons to use Airbnb

You’re on a budget.

Renting a private room on Airbnb is roughly half the price of a hotel. If you rent an entire place, it's 20% cheaper than a hotel.* Your savings get even better if you're going to an expensive city like NYC, San Fran, or Seattle.

You’re traveling with a group.

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Wham, bam, thank you ma'am (or kind sir)

Book the entire place! Take the already wallet-friendly price and split it up with your traveling companions. Not only does Airbnb give you community space to hang out, everyone could have their own room. Now that's fun.

You’re staying a few nights.

When you book a whole place, this usually means you have a kitchen and the option to cook when you’re tired of fast food for the fourth day in a row.

You want to feel like a local.

With Airbnb, you can stay in neighborhoods with character and really get a feel for the vibe of a place. True story: I stayed in an Airstream trailer in Portland and the hippies at the commune next door were making plum wine in the yard. Now that's local flavor.

You’re traveling with pets.

Airbnb has more pet friendly options than hotels. If you fall in love with a place but it’s not pet-friendly, just ask. You might have to pay extra for cleaning, but it’ll still be cheaper than dog boarding!

You love an adventure.

Want to stay in an igloo? A caboose? A boat? A tree house? A yurt? A mansion? Lucky you: they're all on Airbnb! Even if you don’t stay in a place from a children’s book, it’s still a more interesting experience than a hotel.

I’ve also found the well-rated hosts (4+ stars) go above and beyond. During a stay in San Diego, the hosts left beach cruiser bikes and beach chairs for us to use. While visiting Crater Lake, we were greeted with warm chocolate chip cookies and used the hosts' kayaks.

How to book a place using Airbnb

The Sage & Mint recipe for a good first experience on Airbnb:

• 4+ stars (at least 10 reviews)
• Book entire place
• Stay at least two nights
• Stay in walkable areas
• Travel with friends

1. Well first, you have to sign up. It’s totally free.

2. Once you have an account, you can start looking at destinations. I use the “wish list” feature quite a bit to save my favorites; it's like a Pinterest board.

3. Use the filters to limit your search to what is available during your travel.

4. You can choose to share a room, rent a private room, or rent an entire place. I am partial to booking an entire place, but renting a private room is great for a clutch last-minute cheap stay. Solo travelers - you know what’s up - use your best judgement and err on the side of caution if you end up renting a private room.

5. To book, you'll either see a lightning bolt next to the price or a "request to book" button. The lightning bolt means you can instantly book just like a hotel. The "request to book" means you'll send a request to the host and they'll confirm the booking.

   1. When you request to book, you’ll write a little note to the owner with your reason for booking. You can keep it short and sane: "Hi, I'm traveling to the area for vacation/visiting family/a Netflix binge and your place looks great!"

   2. The host will pre-approve your request and then you'll actually have the ability to book. You will get an email from Airbnb that says you can now confirm your stay. It will have the price breakdown (number of nights, price per night, cleaning fee, security deposit). You'll actually have to click a button to officially confirm. You pay when the host confirms your stay, and then Airbnb gives the payment to the host when you check in.

6. Time to travel! You’ll get more details about how to get into the place you’re staying before you leave. I’ve used key codes, keys hidden in Yale coffee mugs, and keys under the rug. No big deal.

7. Stay, enjoy, and follow instructions for how to leave the house. You don’t have to do any laundry, but some hosts ask dishes to be in the dishwasher, beds to be stripped, or heat turned down.

8. After your stay is done, you get to review the space and they owner gets to review you as a guest.

9. Start dreaming of your next vacation.

Airbnb etiquette

Breakfast: sometimes provided, sometimes not (don't count on it if you’re renting an entire place). It should say on the listing page.

Cleaning: some hosts ask for beds to be stripped, dishes in dishwasher, or heat turned down. You do pay a cleaning fee, so no heavy-duty stuff is required, but I also do tend to take better care of Airbnb places than hotels.

Food in kitchen: When in doubt, probably just don’t eat it. However, cooking supplies/spices and coffee are usually fair game.

Additional notes

Two thumbs up for traveling on Airbnb. The whole experience, from browsing to booking, lets you dream and get excited about your vacation. It’s so much more captivating and connecting that just renting a hotel room. Sure, sometimes a predictable Hyatt is just right for a vacation. For the other times, give Airbnb a shot.

*Thanks to the folks at Priceonomics - they did way more number crunching than I wanted to and have a fun interactive map.